Combined busway, hanger and hanger adapter



June 9, 1964 K. P. STINER 3,136,841

COMBINED BUSWAY, HANGER AND HANGER ADAPTER i 60 w I I 53 Z 4/ INVENTOR.

KENT l ST/NEE June 9, 1964 K. P. STINER 3,135,841

COMBINED BUSWAY, HANGER AND HANGER ADAPTER Filed Aug. 15, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. A zF/Vf R 577N611? United States Patent 3,136,841 COMBINED BUSWAY, HANGER AND HANGER ADAPTER Kent P. Stiner, Detroit, Mich., assignor to I-T-E Circuit Breaker Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of I Pennsylvania Filed Aug. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 131,680 14 Claims. (Cl. 1174-40) This invention relates to the mounting of bus duct and more particularly to the construction of an adapter which facilitates the securement of a bus duct directly to a building structure or to means, such as a steel rod, depending therefrom.

Bus duct comprises an elongated housing wherein a plurality of bus bars are mounted in spaced parallel relationship. A typical bus duct run extends for several hundred feet with major portions of the run being horizontal, the bus duct'being suspended from overhead supports of a building structure.

In a typical bus duct run the bus duct housing is supported by hanger means of standard construction with the hanger means typically being connected to steel rods extending downwardly from stationary portionsof the building structure. In the prior art the hanger means was connected to the rod means either by specially constructed angle brackets bolted to both the rod and the hanger means or by constructing the rod means with special formations at the lower end thereof. These prior art constructions have been found to be considerably less than satisfactory since assembly was cumbersome and/ or the bus duct could accidentally be separated from the mounting means.

The instant invention overcomes the problems of the prior art by providing an adapter which includes a hookshaped part to engage the fastening bolt of the typical bus duct hanger and a fiat horizontal part having appropriate apertures either to receive bolt means for direct securement to a building structure or else to receive the lower end of a rod extending downwardly from the building structure overhead support members.

The hook part includes a semi-circular recess within which the bus duct hanger fastening bolt rests and an inclined ramp portion leading outward and upward from the semi-circular recess. The adapter further includes an offset ear which cooperates with the inclined ramp to prevent the hanger bolt from accidentally leaving the hook recess. That is, the offset ear is positioned adjacent to the top edge of the bus duct hanger and the hanger bolt is a fixed distance from this top surface.

The inclined surface of the adapter and the offset thereof are positioned relative to one another so that the distance therebetween decreases at points more remote from the bolt receiving recess. If the hanger bolt attempts to leave the adapter recess and become disengaged from the hook part of the adapter the hanger bolt must move upwardly along the inclined ramp. As this happens the offset ear engages the bus duct hanger and prevents this outward movement of the hanger bolt so that the bus duct unit cannot accidentally be dismounted from the adapter.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel adapter means which facilitates securement of a conduit supporting hanger to portions of the building structure so that the conduit is suspended from these portions of the structure.

Another object is to provide a novel adapter means of this type which is inexpensive to manufacture. M

Still another object is to provide an adapter means of this type which includes self-locking provisions to prevent accidental displacement during and after assembly.

A further object is to provide an adapter means of this type which is readily dismountable.

These as well as other objects of this invention shall become readily apparent after reading the following de scription of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a horizontal portion of a bus duct run.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section taken through line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of arrows 2-2.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the bus duct hanger and adapter means of FIGURE 2 shown in assembled position.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation illustrating a variation in the means connecting the halves of a bus duct hanger.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of the adapter means of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is an end view of the adapter means looking in the direction of arrows 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective of the elements shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 8 is a front elevation of a single piece hanger construction.

FIGURE 9 is a side view of the hanger of FIGURE 8 looking in the direction of arrows 9-9 of FIGURE 8.

Now referring to the figures. Bus duct 10 is of a construction well known to the art with reference being made to copending application of J. B. Cataldo, Serial No. 7,810, filed February 10, 1960, entitled Bus Duct Having Stacked Bus Bars, now Patent No. 3,012,218, issued December 5, 1961, and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention for details of construction. Briefly, bus duct 10 comprises an elongated housing of generally rectangular cross-section wherein four insulation covered bus bars 1216 are disposed in spacedparallel relationship. Housing 11 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced access openings 16 each of which is provided with an openable cover 17. With a cover 17 in opened position bus bars 1215 are accessible for engagement by the contact fingers of a bus duct plug-in unit for tapping of power from the bus duct 10.

As shown in FIGURE 1 bus duct 10 is generally horizontal and is suspended from steel cable 21 which extends between turnbuckles 22, 23 secured to members 24, 25 extending from stationary portions of the building structure. Substantially identical means suspend bus duct 10 from cable 21. Accordingly, for the sake of brevity only one of these means will be described. This means comprises threaded hanger rod 32 whose upper endis connected to clamp means in engagement with cable 21. Nuts 33, 34 secure the lower end of rod 32 to adapter with adapter 40 engageing the upper bolt 71 of bus duct hanger 60.

Hanger is comprised of two generally C-shaped sections 62, 63 with the arms of these sections extending toward one another and slightly overlapping so that apertures 64, 65 of member 62 are aligned with apertures 66, 67 respectively, of member 63. Screw 69 extends through lower aligned apertures 65, 67 as well as spacing sleeve 68 interposed between members 62 and 63 and in cooperation with nut 70 fastens the lower ends of members 62, 63. Similarly, bolt 71 and nut 72 passing through upper aligned apertures 65 and 64 secure the upper ends of members 62, 63 in operative position.

With members 62 and 63 secured to one another as shown, they cooperate to form a generally rectangular opening through which hus duct 10 extends. Adapter 40 is constructed of sheet material with a generally vertical plate-like portion 41 having a right angle flange 42 at the upper end thereof. Ribs 43 provide rigidity at the junction between portions 41 and 42. Horizontal flange 42 includes central aperture 43 through which hanger rod 32 extends with nuts 33 and 34 positioned at opposite surfaces of portion 4-2. In addition, fiange 42 includes apertures 44 to receive bolt means for direct securement to a building structure or to receive means for stabilizing duct It) against sideways movement.

Vertical portion 41 includes at its lower end hook-like formation 45 defining a substantially semi-circular recess 46 with ramp 47 extending upwardly and outwardly from recess 46. Portion 48 of vertical section 41 above ramp 47 is offset from the plane of portion 41 by an amount substantially equal to the thickness of portion 41. As will be hereinafter explained, with the upper duct hanger bolt 71 disposed within recess 46 and nut 72 tightened adapter 40 cannot be displaced from hanger bolt 71 since the offset ear 48 engages the top 75 of hanger member 63 thereby preventing hanger bolt 71 from moving out of recess 46.

To install duct to rods 32, with rod 32 extending downward from cable 21 nut 33 is run upwardly from the lower end of rod 32. Adapted 40 is slipped on the end of rod 32 with rod 32 extending through aperture 43. Nut 34 is then run upwardly from the lower end of rod 32 until adapter flange 42 abuts nut 33. Hanger 60 having previously been installed on bus duct It} with upper nut 72 in place, but not tightened, is brought into a position such that hook end 45 of adapter 49 will pass between the halves 62, 63 of hanger 6t) and engage fastening bolt 71 which is made to rest within recess 46. Nut 72 is then tightened to drive hanger member 62 and 63 against opposite surfaces of adapter vertical section 41 for final assembly. In this position offset 48 is positioned in close proximity to upper edge 75 of hanger member 63. It is seen that if hanger bolt 71 attempts to move out of recess 46 the lower edge of offset 48 is positioned to block this movement. Thus, it is seen that adapter 40 cannot accidentally be disengaged from hanger bolt 71. The inclination of ramp 47 compensates for manufacturing tolerances.

While FIGURE 3 illustrates a spacing collar 68 at the lower portion of hanger this member is usually not required. Thus, in FIGURE 4 the lower ends of hanger members 62, 63 are shown in abutment with one another. With members 62 and 63 in this position the resilient nature of their construction enables the upper ends thereof to be spread apart to enagle adapter 40 to be received therebetween.

Also, as illustrated by the phantom illustration in FIGURE 3, an offset may be provided so that rod 32 is aligned with the plane of the adapter hook-like portion.

In addition, while hanger 60 has hereinbefore been described as comprising a two-piece unit this is not essential for this invention. Thus, FIGURE 8 illustrates hanger comprised of a single member 77 shaped to define aperture 76 through which the bus duct will extend. Member 77 includes parallel flange portions 78, 79 at the upper ends thereof which have clearance apertures through which the threaded portion of hanger bolt 80 extends. Clamping nut 81 is threadably mounted to screw 80 and cooperates therewith in providing means for drawing confronting portions '78, 79 toward one another when the vertical portion 41 of adapter 40 is placed therebetween with hanger bolt disposed within recess 46.

Thus, this invention provides a novel adapter means which facilitates the securement of a bus duct unit to rods suspended directly from a building structure with this adapter being constructed to also permit mounting directly to the building structure by bolt means.

Although I have here described preferred embodiments of my novel invention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent to those skilled in the art, and I therefore prefer to be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adapter device of the class described comprising a first plate-like portion disposed in a generally vertical position and a second plate-like portion at the upper end of said first plate-like portion and angularly disposed with respect thereto; said first plate-like portion having a hook-like formation at the lower end thereof defining a recess and a ramp leading therefrom; an ear outwardly bent from said first plate-like portion and extending from the plane of said first plate-like portion at a part thereof above said ramp; said recess adapted to receive a fastening device for mounting one part of a mounting means against said first plate-like portion with another part thereof operatively positioned adjacent to said ear whereby accidental dismounting of the fastening of said adapter device is prevented.

2. The adapter device of claim 1 in which the ramp is inclined upwardly and away from said recess.

3. The adapter device of claim 2 in which the ear and the ramp are so positioned that points along the lower edge of said car more remote from saidrecess are closer to said ramp than are points on said lower edge closer to said recess.

4. In a device of the class described the combination comprising a hanger means and an adapter means from which said hanger depends; said hanger means including first and second confronting parts disposed in generally vertical planes, fastening means extending through aligned apertures in said confronting parts and constructed upon tightening thereof to move said parts toward each other; said adapter means including a generally vertical platelike portion having a hook-like formation at the lower end thereof defining a recess, an ear offset from the plane of said plate-like portion; at least part of said hook-like formation disposed between said parts with said fastening means disposed within said recess and tightened so that said parts abut said plate-like portion, said ear operatively positioned in close proximity to the edge of one of said parts whereby said ear will engage said edge to block movement of said fastening means out of said recess.

5. The device of claim 4 in which the hook-like formation also defines a ramp leading from said recess and positioned below said ear.

6. The device of claim 5 in which the ramp is inclined upwardly and away from said recess.

7. The device of claim 6 in which the ear and the ramp are so positioned that points along the lower edge of said ear more remote from said recess are closer to said ramp than are points on said lower edge closer to said recess.

8. The combination comprising a busway, hanger means supporting said busway, adapter means from which said hanger means depends, and connecting means securing said adapter means to a stationary structure; said busway comprising an elongated housing and a plurality of spaced parallel bus bars disposed therein; said hanger means including devices engaging said housing at points spaced along the length thereof, each of said devices comprising first and second confronting parts disposed in generally vertical planes, fastening means extending through aligned apertures in said confronting parts and constructed upon tightening thereof to move said parts toward each other; said adapter means comprising a member individual to each of said devices; each of said members including a generally vertical plate-like portion having a hook-like formation at the lower end thereof defining a recess, an ear offset from the plane of said plate-like portion; at least part of said hook-like formation disposed between said parts with said fastening means disposed within said recess and tightened so that said parts abut said plate-like portion; said ear operatively positioned in close proximity to the edge of one of said parts whereby said ear will engage said edge to block movement of said fastening means out of said recess.

9. The combination of claim 8 in which each of the members includes another plate-like portion extending from the plane of said plate-like portion with said connecting means in engagement with said another portion.

10. The combination of claim 9 in which said another plate-like portions are generally horizontal.

11. The combination of claim 10 in which for each of the members the connecting means includes a threaded rod extending through an aperture in said another platelike portion of the associated member and a first and a second nut threaded to said rod on opposite sides of said another plate-like portion.

12. The combination of claim 8 in which the hooklike formation also defines a ramp leading from said recess and positioned below said ear.

13. The combination of claim 12 in which the ramp is inclined upwardly and away from said recess.

14. The combination of claim 13 in which the ear and the ramp are so positioned that points along the lower 15 edge of said car more remote from said recess are closer to said ramp than are points on said lower edge closer to said recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 507,440 Knapp Oct. 24, 1893 632,584 Oehring Sept. 5, 1899 2,347,113 King Apr. 18, 1944 10 2,523,888 Veitch Sept. 26, 1950 OTHER REFERENCES Bulldog Bulletin 427-2 and 3 revised, June 1946, page 10, copy in Div. 75. 

1. AN ADAPTER DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING A FIRST PLATE-LIKE PORTION DISPOSED IN A GENERALLY VERTICAL POSITION AND A SECOND PLATE-LIKE PORTION AT THE UPPER END OF SAID FIRST PLATE-LIKE PORTION AND ANGULARLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT THERETO; SAID FIRST PLATE-LIKE PORTION HAVING A HOOK-LIKE FORMATION AT THE LOWER END THEREOF DEFINING A RECESS AND A RAMP LEADING THEREFROM; AN EAR OUTWARDLY BENT FROM SAID FIRST PLATE-LIKE PORTION AND EXTENDING FROM THE PLANE OF SAID FIRST PLATE-LIKE PORTION AT A PART THEREOF ABOVE SAID RAMP; SAID RECESS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A FASTENING DEVICE FOR MOUNTING ONE PART OF A MOUNTING MEANS AGAINST SAID FIRST PLATE-LIKE PORTION WITH ANOTHER PART THEREOF OPERATIVELY POSITIONED ADJACENT TO SAID EAR WHEREBY ACCIDENTAL DISMOUNTING OF THE FASTENING OF SAID ADAPTER DEVICE IS PREVENTED.
 8. THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A BUSWAY, HANGER MEANS SUPPORTING SAID BUSWAY, ADAPTER MEANS FROM WHICH SAID HANGER MEANS DEPENDS, AND CONNECTING MEANS SECURING SAID ADAPTER MEANS TO A STATIONARY STRUCTURE; SAID BUSWAY COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HOUSING AND A PLURALITY OF SPACED PARALLEL BUS BARS DISPOSED THEREIN; SAID HANGER MEANS INCLUDING DEVICES ENGAGING SAID HOUSING AT POINTS SPACED ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF, EACH OF SAID DEVICES COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND CONFRONTING PARTS DISPOSED IN GENERALLY VERTICAL PLANES, FASTENING MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH ALIGNED APERTURES IN SAID CONFRONTING PARTS AND CONSTRUCTED UPON TIGHTENING THEREOF TO MOVE SAID PARTS TOWARD EACH OTHER; SAID ADAPTER MEANS COMPRISING A MEMBER INDIVIDUAL TO EACH OF SAID DEVICES; EACH OF SAID MEMBERS INCLUDING A GENERALLY VERTICAL PLATE-LIKE PORTION HAVING A HOOK-LIKE FORMATION AT THE LOWER END THEREOF DEFINING A RECESS, AN EAR OFFSET FROM THE PLANE OF SAID PLATE-LIKE PORTION; AT LEAST PART OF SAID HOOK-LIKE FORMATION DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID PARTS WITH SAID FASTENING MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID RECESS AND TIGHTENED SO THAT SAID PARTS ABUT SAID PLATE-LIKE PORTION; SAID EAR OPERATIVELY POSITIONED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE EDGE OF ONE OF SAID PARTS WHEREBY SAID EAR WILL ENGAGE SAID EDGE TO BLOCK MOVEMENT OF SAID FASTENING MEANS OUT OF SAID RECESS. 